Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Probenecid? Is Probenecid safe for nursing mother and child? Does Probenecid extracts into breast milk? Does Probenecid has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Probenecid influence milk supply or can Probenecid decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Probenecid lactation summary

Probenecid is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Probenecid is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Probenecid is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Probenecid does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Probenecid safe in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About Probenecid usage in lactation

It increases renal excretion of Uric acid and decreases elimination of many drug by the kidneys, among them beta-lactam antibiotics, with augmented plasma levels and effectiveness. Excretion into breast milk is clinically non-significant, with no problems observed among breastfed infants from treated mothers that could be attributed to Probenecid (reportedly, one case of self-limited diarrhea occurred in a child whose mother was taking a Cephalosporin together with Probenecid).

Answer by DrLact: About Probenecid usage in lactation

Limited information indicates that maternal doses of probenecid up to 2 grams daily produce low levels in milk and would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants, especially if the infant is older than 2 months. In animal studies, probenecid increased the breastmilk excretion of cimetidine, possible via an interaction with an active transport mechanism in the breast.[1] The implications of enhanced excretion of drugs given with probenecid for nursing mothers and their infants has not been studied; however, only a few drugs are known to undergo active transport into breastmilk.

Probenecid Side Effects in Breastfeeding

A woman with mastitis received 3 days of intravenous cephalothin, followed by 16 days of probenecid 500 mg and cephalexin 500 mg 4 times daily for 16 days. Her infant developed green liquid stools, severe diarrhea, discomfort and crying. The authors judged the effects to be probably related to the cephalothin and cephalexin in milk rather than the probenecid.[2]
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.